Coronary Artery Disease: Stress, Depression, and Anxiety
Coronary Artery Disease: Stress, Depression, and Anxiety
Hannah Marchand, PhD a psychologist at the Ottawa Heart Institute discusses stress, anxiety and depression as it relates to coronary artery disease for those who have been diagnosed with coronary artery disease or who want to learn more about the condition.
Content
1.367 -> Hi my name is Doctor
Hannah Marchand.
3.066 -> I'm a psychologist at the
Heart Institute and today
5.433 -> we will be talking about
stress, depression and anxiety.
9.367 -> So to start, Stress.
11.133 -> What happens to your body
in a stressful situation?
14.233 -> Well your body reacts by
releasing stress hormones.
17.3 -> In response, your heart rate
and blood pressure increase,
20.1 -> your breathing becomes
faster and more shallow,
22.834 -> your skin starts to sweat
and your entire body starts
25.3 -> to "rev up into high gear".
27.4 -> in the short-term, your
body becomes more alert
29.8 -> and more able to deal with
a stressful situation.
33.266 -> But if you're under stress
for a long period of time,
36 -> other changes can occur
that are not so positive.
40 -> These include: one, your fat
cells that were released into
43.667 -> the bloodstream for extra
energy become converted into
46.2 -> cholesterol, two, platelets
circulating in the blood become
50.734 -> more sticky and patterns
of daily life may change
54.9 -> making it more difficult to
eat well, exercise regularly
57.7 -> or get enough rest.
62.233 -> So how do we manage our stress?
64 -> Well, here are a few
tips on managing stress.
68.367 -> How we think about an event
determines its impacts our
70.367 -> health and therefore it is
important to identify what
74.033 -> causes your stress and how
it affects you personally.
77.433 -> Its important to be physically
active on a regular basis.
82.033 -> You also want to
identify and use your
83.9 -> social support networks.
85.767 -> This includes
friends and family.
89 -> If you're feeling overwhelmed or
having difficulty functioning in
92.333 -> your daily activities, it is
important that you speak with
95.6 -> your doctor or nurse about
different options that
98.033 -> would be available for you.
100.967 -> You can also attend a
stress management program.
103.934 -> Here at the Heart Institute,
our stress management program
107 -> consists of five 90-minute
sessions in a group format.
110.066 -> The sessions focus on:
112.1 -> breathing and muscle
relaxation techniques,
114.667 -> looking at ways to improve
assertive communication skills,
118.567 -> uncovering and changing
negative thoughts
122.066 -> and they also use humour as a
good coping strategy to help
125.333 -> you manage your stress better.
128.667 -> You can register by
calling 613-761-4558.
134.734 -> The cost is $30.
137.367 -> If you have family members that
are also interested you can
140.633 -> contact the University of Ottawa
Heart Institute prevention
144.233 -> and wellness centre to
get more information.
147.934 -> Now we move on to depression.
149.9 -> Depression is common in
people with heart problems.
152.3 -> About 1 in 5 patients, so
that's about 20 percent,
154.967 -> experience clinical
or major depression.
157.734 -> If you're feeling at least five
of the symptoms listed below
161.367 -> for a two week period or more,
you may actually developing
164.066 -> depression and it may be
important that you speak
166.7 -> to somebody about how
you've been feeling.
169.367 -> So symptoms of depression
include: feeling down,
172.2 -> feeling blue, feeling sad,
losing interest in activities
175.533 -> that you used to enjoy
doing, changes of appetite,
179.6 -> sleep disturbances, significant
changes in your weight,
185.433 -> loss of energy, difficulty
with concentration or memory,
189.8 -> feeling like you want to
withdraw from friends and
192.2 -> family, feelings
of worthlessness,
195.033 -> helplessness or hopelessness,
changes in sexual desire or
199.6 -> thoughts about death or suicide.
203.4 -> So many people ask, how does
depression affect your heart?
206.867 -> Well, depression affects
your heart in two ways,
209.967 -> directly and indirectly.
212.333 -> Depression affects your
heart directly by increasing
214.9 -> the risk of blood clotting
and plaque build-up.
217.767 -> It negatively affects your
immune system so you're
220.133 -> less able to fight off
germs and viruses.
223.533 -> Depression may affect your
heart indirectly by influencing
226.166 -> some of the decisions you make.
228.266 -> So people with depression
often find it difficult to
230.333 -> make healthy choices about
quitting smoking, exercising,
233.767 -> eating or taking
medication safely.
237.033 -> They find it difficult to
find the drive or energy to
239.734 -> make healthy lifestyle changes.
244.934 -> So what do we do if
we're feeling depressed?
248.133 -> Well some tips on managing
symptoms of depression include:
251.667 -> do more pleasant activities,
even f you don't feel like it.
254.834 -> We know from research that
this is very important.
257.6 -> It is important to
exercise regularly and do
261.066 -> activities that you enjoy doing.
264.367 -> It is also important to
set realistic goals and do
266.967 -> one thing at a time.
269.667 -> When you're feeling down, you
might not feel like you're doing
272.6 -> enough so it is important that
you celebrate your achievements.
276 -> You may need to record
your daily activities to
278.767 -> prove to yourself that
you're making gains.
281.533 -> It is also important to
take time for yourself.
284.133 -> Give yourself that time, that
space that you need especially
288.367 -> in your daily life when you
become busy and when the focus
291.734 -> is on others, it's important
to take time for yourself.
295.8 -> You also want to talk about
problems or concerns.
298.734 -> Seek support and don't
bottle up your feelings.
302.2 -> You can also participate in the
Cardiac Rehabilitation Program.
306.033 -> If you're finding the
symptoms of depression
309.066 -> are hard to manage, it
is important that you
311.767 -> talk to a doctor or mental
health professional like
314.2 -> a social worker, psychologist
or psychiatrist about proven
316.9 -> treatments for depression.
322.066 -> And last we move onto anxiety.
325.333 -> Anxiety is one of
the most distressing
327 -> emotions that people feel.
328.7 -> At some point in time, most
cardiac patients will experience
331.567 -> varying degrees of fear
or nervousness related to
334.5 -> their health condition.
336.033 -> This is normal.
338.1 -> Like depression, about 1 in 5
cardiac patients experience
341.2 -> significant anxiety symptoms.
344.6 -> So these symptoms may include:
uncontrollable worry,
347.967 -> feeling on edge or restless,
feeling irritable,
352.4 -> muscle tension,
light-headedness,
355.367 -> sleep problems, being easily
fatigued, changes in heart rate,
361 -> headaches, sweating,
or stomach problems.
365.834 -> Anxiety describes a number of
problems and these can include
369.166 -> things like generalized
anxiety where the individual
373 -> has a mixture of worries
experienced most of the time.
377.133 -> Individuals can also have
panic attacks which are
380.367 -> intense feelings of anxiety
sometimes accompanied by
383.333 -> increased heart rate,
sweating and often times,
386.533 -> you feel like you're
going to die.
389.734 -> Post-traumatic Stress Disorder
is also another anxiety
393.2 -> disorder and this includes
experiencing/witnessing
398.2 -> a horrifying event and
subsequently individuals have
402 -> repeated memories of this
terrible or traumatic event
405.033 -> with high levels of fear.
407.834 -> So how does anxiety
affect your heart?
411.8 -> Well, anxiety may play a role in
cardiac problems by increasing
415.333 -> the risk of an irregular heart
beat and triggering spasms.
419.2 -> Both of these responses may
lead to cardiac complications.
423.266 -> Anxiety may also lead to
unhealthy behaviours such as
426.433 -> smoking, overeating, poor sleep
and decreased physical activity.
433.4 -> So what can you do if
you're feeling anxious?
436.2 -> Well, like stress and like
symptoms of depression,
440.133 -> you can also find ways that can
help you manage your anxiety.
444.8 -> One such way is to practice
relaxation techniques.
448.7 -> Relaxation techniques include
taking a nice slow and deep
452.467 -> breath and just sitting there
and feeling your breath,
456.834 -> taking a deep breath in
and a deep breath out.
460.767 -> Another type of relaxation
technique is imagining a
463.4 -> pleasant scene whether
that's a beach,
465.5 -> a quiet park and someplace
that is relaxing for you.
471.066 -> Another relaxation technique
includes relaxing muscles
474.7 -> throughout the body so starting
from your head and working your
477.5 -> way down to your toes and
just letting your body
480.166 -> and your muscles relax.
483.433 -> Another technique is distracting
yourself from your thoughts or
486.2 -> physical symptoms such
as counting backwards
489 -> from 100 in three's.
492.867 -> You can also do something
pleasurable like read a funny
495.533 -> book or watch a movie that
you have been wanting to see.
498.8 -> If you're feeling anxiety, it
is important that you share
501.066 -> your fears and worries
with someone you trust.
503.7 -> Don't try and deal
with this on your own.
506.7 -> Individuals also find it helpful
to manage anxiety by learning
509.266 -> how to recognize what is it
that makes them feel anxious
513.166 -> and from there develop a plan.
516.266 -> It is also important to
challenge yourself to change
519.066 -> the way you are thinking
about a problem.
520.867 -> So for example,
tell yourself,
522.266 -> "I can handle this.
I've done it before."
524.333 -> or "I'm not going to die.
527.033 -> It is normal for my
heart to pump harder
528.834 -> when I'm exercising.".
531.9 -> So to determine how much
control you have in a situation
535.266 -> and let go of things that
are beyond your control.
539.4 -> Another way to help yourself
manage your anxiety is
542.734 -> to participate in a Cardiac
Rehabilitation Program.
547.2 -> And again, like stress
and depression, if you're
552.367 -> finding that you want more
support and are looking for
555.767 -> more treatments, it is important
to talk to your doctor or mental
558.467 -> health professional about
proven treatments for anxiety.
563.4 -> For more information on
mental health issues,
565.6 -> you can visit the
following websites.
567.934 -> You can go to the Canadian
Mental Health Association
570.633 -> at www.cmha.ca or visit
the Canadian Psychological
578.233 -> Association website
at www.cpa.ca.
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40I9YLFMu9c